Spokane's Climate Grant Rescinded, Leaving City Vulnerable | JQJO

Spokane, Washington, faced a deadly 2021 heatwave resulting in 19 deaths. A $19.9 million EPA grant to help the city adapt to climate change, including installing resilience hubs and energy-efficient cooling systems, was rescinded by the Trump administration. This left Spokane, a city with low median income and high poverty rates, vulnerable to future heatwaves. The grant's termination is part of a larger pattern of about 350 similar grant cancellations. A lawsuit seeks to restore the funding, while Spokane works to prepare for worsening heat waves through community collaborations.